This tournament is in its eleventh year and is already rich in
tradition. Past champions have been Madison Central (1995-1996), Bryan
Station (1996-1997), Scott County (1997-1998), Scott County (1998-1999), Scott
County (1999-2000), Scott County (2000-2001), Scott County (2001-2002), Dixie
Heights (2002-2003), Scott County (2003-2004), and Scott County
(2004-2005). A good field has been assembled this year to play for the
championship. This year's field will consist of the following
teams: Henry Clay, Simon Kenton, Louisville Male, Elizabethtown,
North Oldham, Dixie Heights, North Laurel, and Scott County. There will
also be a girl’s game in this event as Nelson County will play Scott
County.

Scott County raced out to a 30-12 first quarter lead on their way to a 96-48
victory over Nelson County. The opportunistic Scott County defense
recorded 18 steals and converted 35 Nelson County turnovers into 41 points.

Scott County shot 44.3% from the field, connected on 24 of 34 free throws,
and pulled down 51 rebounds. Scott County held a 22-5 advantage in second
chance points and a 28-23 advantage in bench scoring. Nelson County shot
33.3% from the field, connected on 18 of 33 free throws, and grabbed 37
rebounds.

Rebecca Gray led Scott County with 23 points. Suzie Owens
added 20 points, 12 rebounds, and five steals. Chelsea Lymon
chipped in with 15 points and four steals. Amy Kurtz led Nelson
County with 14 points and six rebounds. 6-0 8th grader Samantha
Drake added seven points and pulled down eight rebounds.

Elizabethtown led 45-35 at the end of three quarters and held on down the
stretch to defeat Male 71-66. The Panthers had to withstand an 18 point
barrage by Male’s Douglas Beaumont in the final period.

Elizabethtown shot 51.2% from the field including seven of 13 from beyond
the arc. The Panthers connected on 20 of 25 free throws, pulled down 20
rebounds, and scored 20 points off 21 Male turnovers. Male shot 50.9%
from the field including five of 21 from the three point line. The
Bulldogs connected on five of eight free throws, grabbed 28 rebounds, and
scored 19 points off 18 Elizabethtown turnovers.

Todd Atcher led Elizabethtown with 21 points, including five baskets
from the three point line. Steffphon Pettigrew and Quinn Harris
added 18 and 16 points respectively. Douglas Beaumont led Male
with 24 points including four three point baskets, and dished out six
assists. Forrest Smallwood and Ross Herman added 13 and 10
points respectively.

Henry Clay trailed 50-48 after three quarters but rallied to defeat Simon
Kenton 70-66. The Blue Devils held a decided advantage rebounds (51-34)
and 30-11 in second chance points. The victors shot 40.6% from the field
including three of eight from beyond the arc, and connected on 11 of 21 free
throws. Henry Clay scored 20 points off 14 Simon Kenton turnovers.
Simon Kenton shot 44.3% from the field including seven of 20 from the three
point line. The Pioneers scored 20 points off 16 Henry Clay turnovers.

Aaron Miller led Henry Clay with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and three
steals. Aaron Dunaway added 23 points. Aaron Boyd
chipped in with 11 points and nine rebounds. Mike Hester led Simon
Kenton with 24 points including five three point baskets, and five
steals. Josh Elbert and Phil Schambach added 14 points
each, with Elbert pulling down 11 rebounds. Josh Hurd recorded
12 points, five rebounds, and five blocked shots.

Male outscored Simon Kenton 20-9 in the second quarter on their way to a
73-53 victory. The Bulldogs shot 62.2% from the field for the game.

Male connected on 15 of 22 free throws, pulled down 27 rebounds, and scored
20 points off 15 Simon Kenton turnovers. Male held a 24-9 advantage in
bench scoring. Simon Kenton shot 36.5% from the field including eight of
19 from beyond the arc. The Pioneers were seven of nine from the free
throw line, grabbed 23 rebounds, and scored 18 points off 11 Male turnovers.

Dixie Heights trailed 38-35 at the end of three quarters but rallied to
outscore North Oldham 20-13 in the final quarter to earn a 55-51 victory.
This was a game of runs as Dixie Heights led 28-19 at halftime only to get
outscored 19-7 in the third quarter, forcing the Colonels to rally again for
the victory.

Dixie Heights shot 39.2% from the field including five of 18 from beyond the
arc. The Colonels connected on 10 of 12 free throws, pulled down 23
rebounds, and scored 15 points off 17 North Oldham turnovers. North
Oldham shot 43.9% from the field including four of 13 from the three point
line. The Mustangs connected on 11 of 13 free throws, and grabbed 31
rebounds.

Scott County outscored North Laurel 25-7 in the third quarter lead in an
81-52 victory. The Cardinals scored 36 points off 26 North Laurel
turnovers.

Scott County shot 43.8% from the field including eight of 23 from beyond the
arc . The Cardinals connected on nine of 10 free throws, pulled down 38
rebounds, and held a 33-10 advantage in bench scoring. North Laurel shot
39.6% from the field, connected on 13 of 23 free throws, and pulled down 38
rebounds.

North Oldham erased a 40-35 deficit at the end of three quarters to outscore
North Laurel 27-15 in the final period and take a 62-55 victory. The
victors shot 41.7% from the field including seven of 15 from the three point
line. They connected on 15 of 21 free throws, pulled down 31 rebounds,
and scored 16 points off 17 North Laurel turnovers.

North Laurel shot 46.7% from the field including six of 14 from beyond the
arc . The Jaguars connected on seven of 14 free throws, grabbed 26
rebounds, and scored 14 points off 14 North Oldham turnovers.

Elizabethtown shot 52.1% from the field including seven of 12 from beyond
the arc a 64-52 victory over Henry Clay. Elizabethtown connected on seven
of 14 free throws, and pulled down 28 rebounds. The Panthers held a 12-3
advantage in bench scoring. Henry Clay shot 32.7% from the field
including a dismal one of 17 from the three point line. The Blue Devils
connected on 17 of 20 free throws and pulled down 32 rebounds.

Todd Atcher led Elizabethtown with 22 points, including six of seven
from the three point line. Steffphon Pettigrew added 16 points and
10 rebounds. Aaron Miller led Henry Clay with 16 points and Aaron
Boyd added 14 points and eight rebounds. Victor Moses chipped
in with nine points and eight rebounds.

Scott County led 37-32 at halftime but outscored Dixie Heights 24-11 in the
third quarter on their way to an 81-60 victory. Scott County shot 50%
from the field including four of 11 from the three point line. The
Cardinals connected on 21 of 27 free throws, pulled down 38 rebounds, and
scored 24 points off 21 Dixie Heights turnovers. Scott County held a
30-12 advantage in bench scoring.

Dixie Heights shot 39.1% from the field, including eight of 22 from beyond
the arc. The Colonels connected on 16 of 25 free throws, grabbed 27
rebounds, and scored 15 points off 18 Scott County turnovers.

Simon Kenton shot 55.8% from the field a 67-62 victory over North
Laurel. The Pioneers’ 55.8% from the field included six of 15 from
beyond the arc. They connected on 13 of 22 free throws, pulled down 33
rebounds, and scored 17 points off 14 North Laurel turnovers.

North Laurel shot 40.8% from the field including five of 12 from the three
point line. The Jaguars connected on 17 of 24 free throws, grabbed 24
rebounds, and scored 31 points off 24 Simon Kenton turnovers.

Phil Schambach led Simon Kenton with 25 points. Schambach
was eight of 11 from the field, including three of five from beyond the arc and
six of six from the free throw line. Josh Elbert added 14 points,
eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Mike Hester chipped in with 10
points. Billy Carson led North Laurel with 24 points including
four three point baskets. Shanade Allen added 19
points.

Male dominated play in this game as they defeated North Oldham 85-40.
Male shot 54.2% from the field including eight of 15 from the three point
line. The Bulldogs connected on 13 of 24 free throws, pulled down 44
rebounds, and scored 21 points off 15 North Oldham turnovers. Male held a
25-2 advantage in second chance points and a 36-5 margin in bench
scoring.

North Oldham shot 31.3% from the field including six of 16 from beyond the
arc. The Jaguars were four of eight from the free throw line and grabbed
24 rebounds.

Douglas Beaumont led Male with 21 points including five of eight
three point baskets. Forrest Smallwood and 6-2 Jr. Robert
Johnson added 13 and 10 points respectively. Corey Gainey
dished out nine assists. Matt Spencer and Kevin Allen led
North Oldham with 17 and 16 points respectively.

Henry Clay trailed 49-39 midway through the third quarter but rallied for a
77-67 victory over Dixie Heights. The Blue Devils shot 65% from the field
in the decisive second half.

Henry Clay shot 56.3% from the field, connected on 20 of 26 free throws, and
pulled down 39 rebounds. The Blue Devils scored 15 points off eight Dixie
Heights turnovers. Dixie Heights shot 47.2% from the field including 13
of 20 from beyond the arc. The Colonels connected on four of nine free
throws, grabbed 14 rebounds, and scored 17 points off 14 Henry Clay
turnovers.

Aaron Dunaway led Henry Clay with 24 points. Dunaway was
10 of 13 from the field including two of three three pointers and two of two
free throws. Victor Moses added 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Aaron
Miller chipped in with 17 points and six rebounds. Josh Keener
led Dixie Heights with 22 points including four three pointer baskets and six
assists. Nick Groneman added 16 points including four three point
baskets. Jason Muzzillo and Justin Cole also reached double
figures with 13 and 10 points respectively.

Scott County led 57-46 after three quarters but had to withstand a furious
rally by Elizabethtown to earn a 65-62 victory. Elizabethtown went on a
15-4 run to start the fourth quarter to tie the game at 61-61 with 2:04
remaining in the game. Bud Mackey hit a field goal and Matt
Walls hit two free throws down the stretch to give Scott County the
victory.

Scott County shot 42.3% from the field including five of 18 from the three
point line. The Cardinals connected on 16 of 22 free throws, pulled down
42 rebounds, and scored 23 points off 22 Elizabethtown turnovers.
Elizabethtown shot 36.2% from the field including eight of 20 from beyond the
arc. The Panthers connected on 12 of 16 free throws, grabbed 32 rebounds,
and scored 29 points off 24 Scott County turnovers.

Congratulations to the organizers for putting together another excellent
field and to the Scott County Cardinals for capturing their eighth Toyota
Classic championship in 11 years. The Toyota Classic organizers continue
to send the right message with the recognition of juniors and seniors who have
maintained a cumulative average of 3.0 or better. This year 63 student
athletes were recognized for their accomplishments.

Acknowledgments

A special thanks to Scott County Director of Athletics Sonny Denniston for
the hospitality extended me during my visit this week. Also, a special
thanks to WL Stats for providing the computer statistics for all the
games. Also check out the official Toyota Classic website at http://www.toyotaclassic.com .
It is an excellent and comprehensive website on this event, both past and
present.

Please feel free to send your comments and questions
concerning the tournament, teams, or players to me at prephoops@yahoo.com .
Ron Harrison’s reports on this and other basketball events appear on http://www.kyprephoops.com.